Art alumni present drawings in Lee Gallery exhibit

“Shift and Collide: Drawings from Near and Far” presents drawings from Clemson alumni John Allen, Bethany Flagg Pipkin and Jackson Zorn and their former professor, Heidi Jensen.

CLEMSON — The Clemson University Center for Visual Arts-Lee Gallery is exhibiting drawings inspired by the natural environment by alumni from the art department and former drawing faculty member Heidi Jensen. The art, “Shift and Collide: Drawings from Near and Far,” is on display until Sept. 5.

“We are pleased to have the work of these artists back to the area and to witness their growth as professionals in the field. The exhibition is also an opportunity for our alumni to inspire artists in our Bachelor of Fine Arts program about the possibilities a career in the arts can provide serious practitioners,” said Lee Gallery director Denise Woodward-Detrich.

“Shift and Collide: Drawings from Near and Far”

The artists, John Allen, Bethany Flagg Pipkin and Jackson Zorn, studied under Jensen and received Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in visual art with concentrations in drawing from Clemson. Recently, each earned Master of Fine Arts degrees from programs in Florida, North Carolina and Indiana.

Their former professor, Jensen, now teaches at Ball State University in Indiana. Jensen was invited to put together an exhibition of work by her former students for Greenville Technical College’s Riverworks Gallery. The exhibition, now at the Lee Gallery, draws together a group of artists who are now dispersed geographically as careers develop and expand.

“While each artist has pursued a singular direction of thought and have not worked in close proximity to each other for many years, there are relationships to be found in this work,” Jensen said.

Woodward-Detrich added, “It is a pleasure to witness the creative and professional development these artists are bringing to their field and we are pleased to welcome the work of these artists back to the Lee Gallery.”